what's your bait?

Summer opened this can of worms. Let's fish!

Since our one year anniversary Mark has been saying that the first year was the most difficult for us. And for the longest time I really had a hard time understanding what he was talking about. From my perspective, our first year was incredible.

The evidence is overwhelming that now is easier than then. As a general rule, I am passionate and short-fused. His even keel and absentmindedness demand peace and patience from me. As a general rule Mark is well-liked by all and unobtrusive. My hard-knock reality facilitates a sort of emotional awareness I don't think he owned before he loved me. Essentially, our marriage is producing fruits of the Spirit that a relationship with no one else offered. It's more than balance, it's God working in us.

To this day, there are times when I roll my eyes behind his back. But our first year we'd fight because I would try to "work it out." When I tolerate what annoys me about him, there's room for us to like each other! And he usually does do some super sweet thing, like hold me or hug me or say thank you. And the fire of annoyance is squelched.

When we promised to love each other unconditionally, we promised never to compromise. When we do compromise, we end up not only hurting the other but damaging ourselves. My hope is that our marriage will quench compromise and embody joy and steadfastness.

My hope for all my lovely friends is that they will find that person who mobilizes them to do in their mutal lives what they have been desiring to do, but were unable to on their own.